Label-affixing machine.



I. IIIIKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAYI4, I9I4.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIIIIIIIIIIII I I II II l Mieedf In 27E/2%?? Ox I @lf/Qa NM UIN" mj/2M. I I

J. RIIKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NIM/14,1914.

l 1,166,082., Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@minimun J. RIIKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXNG MACHINE.

AEPLICATION FILED MAY14.1914.

1,166,082. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA lLANoclzAx-H cu.. WASHINQTDN. D, c.

1. RHKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPL1cAT|oN F1150 MAY14.1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

CDLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH c0.,w/\SH1NGTON. D. t:4

J. RIIKONEN.

LABEL AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4. 1914.

1,166,082. Patented 1m28, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM co., WASHINGTON. IL c.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT OFFTEE.

JOHN RIIKONEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

AMERICAN LABELING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- TION OF ILLINOIS.

LABEL-AFFIXING MACHINE.

To all 'wlw/m t may concern.'

Re it known that I, JOHN Billionen, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label-Afiixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a machine to be used for affixing labels to packages containing, or to contain articles of various kinds, and while it is more pai'- ticularly intended for use in aflixing labels to packages rectangular in shape, such as, the boxes for matches, yet it is applicable for applying labels to packages of different shapes and sizes for holding articles or material of almost any kind, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a label aflixing machine of the above named general character, which shall be so constructed as to be operable by means of motor, hand or foot-power, simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efficient in operation.

Another and important object is to provide a label affixing machine that can be operated by a single person and so that the packages can be supplied from the hopper or supply chute, provided with paste or glue on the surfaces to receive the labels, the labels placed and adhered thereto, and smoothed or cleaned by a brush in immediate succession, and in a very rapid, satisfactory and efficient manner.

Various other objects, advantages and details of the construction of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate an embodiment of the invention -Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the parts of the machine arranged for operation by means of motive or hand power; Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. -l is a fragmental side view in elevation, showing the parts of the machine arranged for operation by means of a pedal or foot power; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line-- of Fig. 3, looking in the directionk Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

Serial No. 838,438.

indicated by the arrows; showing a portion of the machine and illustrating by dotted lines means to be used for packages of less than the ordina-ry thickness or depth; Fig. 6 is a detached bottom plan view of the glue or paste pot; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of the adjustable feeding plunger or plate; Fig. 9 is a detached perspective view of a filling plate to be used on the bed plate when shallow or thin boxes or packages are being labeled; Fig. 10 is a face view of the label holder, showing the label plunger or aiiixer in its released position and illustrating the bed plate or top of the machine in cross section; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, showing the label affixer or plunger in its released position; Fig. 12 is a similar view taken on the same line, showing the label aflixer or plunger gripped and in its raised position; Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view of the label carrier or holder, and Fig. 14 is a detached perspective view of one of the adjustable screws used for adjusting and holding the movable plates of the label holder in position.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The reference numeral 15 designates the upright sides of the main or supporting frame, which frame may be made of any suitable sizei and material, but by preference of metal and substantially frame-like and rectangular in shape, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The sides 15 of the frame are secured together by means of horizontal braces 16 and 17, both of which are preferably of a spider or frame like construct-ion, for the sake of economy in material and lightness. As shown, the brace 16 is located near the lower portion of the frame, while the brace 17 is located above its vertical center, and the latter brace has on its rear portion a. pair of spaced apart uprights 18, between and on which is journaled a bell crank lever, the longer arm 19 of which is extended upwardly to a suitable point below the bed plate 20, which is horizontally mounted on the top of the main frame, and is provided in its rear portion with a slot 21 for the midway between the ends of each.

rods are fixed 1n their bearings 37 by means reception and operation of the feed plunger 22, which is loosely connected at its lower portion by means of a link 23 to the upper,

portion of the longer arm 19 of the feeding bell l crank lever above mentioned, the shorter arm 24 of which has journaled on its free portion a roller 25 to engage the feed controlling cam 26, which is mounted on the driving shaft 27 so as to rotate therewith, but in such a manner that said shaft may be slid through said cam.

The driving shaft 27 is slidably journaled en uprights 2S, at each side of the main frame, and by preference extended upwardly from the brace 17 thereof. On one of the ends of the shaft 27 is mounted a balance or fly wheel 29, the hub of which has on its inner portion a clutch face 30 to engageV the clutch face 31 of a collar 32, mounted on the upper and outer portion'of one o-f the bearings or uprights 28 for said shaft. Mounted on the shaft 27, so as to rotate therewith, but in such a way that said shaft may be slid therethrough preferably by being splined to said shaft, is a cam 33, which is employed for operating the glue or paste pot, label holder, label plunger and finishing brush, which cam impinges against a roller 34 journaled on a forked arm 35, extended downwardly and rearwardly from a transversely disposed block or bar 3G, which is provided at each of its ends with a vertical bearing 37 through which is vertically extended rods 38, which also pro-ject vertically through and above and below the brace 17 and the bed plate 2O of the frame and about These of set screws 39 and each has coiled therearound below the brace 17, a spring 40, each of which rests at its upper end against the Vbrace 17 and at its lower end against a pin or projection 41 (see Fig. 2,) on the lower portion of each rod.

Surrounding the shaft 27 between the hub of the cam 33 and a collar 42, fixed to said shaft adjacent to the bearing for said shaft, on the side of the frame adjacent to said hub, isa coiled spring 43, which will normally hold the clutch face 30 of the balance wheel 29 in clutch or engagement with the f clutch face 31 of the collar 32, which is mounted on said shaft so as to lrotate therewith, but in such a way that the shaft will slide therethrough. Journaled on that side of the main frame opposite the wheel 29 is a bell crank lever, the lower and longer armV ofwhich 44 is extended inwardly between the sides l5 of the frame andmay have piv-v otally secured thereto at its upper ends a connecting rod 45, the other end of which may be similarly secured to a lug 4,6 on a pedal 47, which is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the lower front portion of the main frame and is extended rearwardly thereof,

as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, and may be operated by the foot of the operator, so as to depress the arm 44 of the last named bell crank lever, thereby throwing the other arm 48 of said lever in- 50 which rods are extended upwardly above and thro-ugh suitable openings in the bed plate 20 a slight distance in front of the hopper 51, which is vertically mounted on the rear portion of the bed plate at the inner end of the slot 21 therein. Located in suitable openings in the fro-nt portion of each pair of the bars 49 is a rod 52 which rods are extended upwardly thro-ugh suitable openings in the bed plate near each side Y thereof and project vertically some distance above said plate.

The upper end of each of the rods 38 is beveled on its inner surface as at 53 (see Figs. 11 and 12), and each of said rods has rigidly secured thereon at a suitable distance above the bed plate 20 a collar or projection 54 to engage the lower portion of the sockets of the label holder, which holder is mounted on said rods'. Extended vertically through the bed plate outwardly of each of the rods 3S is a rod 55, each of which has a spring 5G surrounding its portion below the bed plate and resting at one of its ends against a pin or projection on the lower end of the rod, and at its upper end against the lower surface of the horizontal part of the main frame. Each of the rods 55 has pivotally connected to its upper end a link 57 which links engage at their upper ends a cross bar 5S near each of its ends, which cross bar is provided at its ends with slots 59 in each of which is pivotally mounted a dog 60, which dogs engage the upper ends of the rods 3S, as is clearly shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings. At its middle the bar 5S is provided with a vertical opening through which is extended the rod 61 of the plunger 62 of the label holder, which plunger is preferably made of lead or very heavy material, so as to strike'the group of labels with considerable force when the rod 61 is released. each of the dogs 53 is a gripping rod 63, which rods are extended inwardly toward the rod 61 of the plunger, and are supported at their inner ends in suitable openings in Pivoted to the o uter portion of l on the upper surface of the bar 58 and around the plunger rod.

The label holder consists of a rectangular receptacle 65, having in one of its faces a vertical opening 66, and provided at each of its sides with a vertical socket 67 to receive the rods 38 which are extended through said sockets or bearings and rest at their upper ends against the dogs 58 on the cross bar 58 or plunger carrier. Secured to the inner surface of each of the sides of the receptacle and at the upper portion thereof is a plate 68, and secured to the upper portion of the inner surface of the frame 65, opposite the opening 66 therein, is a plate 69 which, as well as the plates 68, and a portion of the receptacle below the opening 66, is provided with downwardly beveled and inwardly extended lugs or projections 70, against which the lowermost one of the labels 71 will rest when the same shall have been placed in the label holder. Seated in each side and the rear face of the frame 65 at the lower portion thereof is a screw 72, each of which has in its head a number of recesses 73 to engage springs 7l mounted on the frame, which springs will prevent said screws accidentally turning, but will permit them to be tightened or loosened by means of a screw driver so as to force the plates 68 and 69 inwardly or outwardly at their lower portions, said plates being made of slightly resilent material for this purpose.

When the label holder 65 is in position on the rods 38 and the bar 58 is in position on the upper ends of said rods, it is obvious that the lower end of the plates of the holder will rest on a package such as a match box 75, to be labeled, and that the beveled lugs will hold the lowermost label 71 at a slight distance from the top of the box or package until the rod 61 of the plunger 62 is released, when said plunger will lower with considerable force on the labels and thus detach the lowermost one from the holder and fix the same on the package 75, the upper surface of which has been previously treated with paste or glue by means of the paste pot or receptacle 7 6, which is provided at each of its sides with a socket 7 7, to receive the upper end of the rods 50. The upper end of each of the sockets 77 is provided with a screw phig 78 to regulate or limit the movement of the paste pot 7G, which has its lower portion tapered as at 79 and provided with a series of perfor-ations 8O for the passage of paste or glue. The perforations 80 at the perimeter of the reduced or tapered portion 79 of the paste pot are preferably somewhat larger than the inner perforations so as to supply a larger quantity of paste at the edges of the lables or packages than is supplied inwardly of the same.

The hopper, which, as before stated, is mounted on the bed plate 20 at the inner end of the slot 21 therein is by preference made of two channel pieces 81, with their channels presented toward each other and secured together by a cross piece 82 near their upper portions. The lower ends of the piece 81 of the hopper are bolted to the bed plate and have in their front lower portion a recess 88 to permit of the packages 75, which are stacked one upon the other in the hopper 51, being forced through said recess 88 one at a time. Extended rearwardly from the hopper 51 to the rear end of the bed plate are guide bars 81 and 85, which are located in parallelism with one another and at a suliicient distance apart to permit of the passage therebetween of the packages to be labeled. The bar 84 is rigidly fixed to the bed plate while the bar 85 is movably located therein, so as to act not only as a guide, but also as a clamp for the packages so as to prevent them being raised from the bed plate by the action of the paste pot to which, on account of the i' adhesive material, it carries and distributes.v said boxes will have a tendency to stick or adhere. In order to give the bar 85 its clamping action it is provided on its outer surface near each of its ends with a laterally extended rod 86, each of which is located in a bearing 87, mounted on the upper portion of the bed plate. Surrounding each of the rods 86 is a coiled spring 88, each of which has one of its ends resting against the bar 85 and its other end against one of the bearings 87, thus affording yielding pressure to said clamping guide bar.

Mounted on the rods 52 above the bed plate 20 is a transversely extended brush screw plugs 91 to regulate or limit the movement of the brush carrier 89, which has secured to its lower portion a brush 92 of the ordinary or any preferred construction, but by preference with the bristles at the edges thereof slightly longer than the inner bristles. This brush is employed to gently tamp the labels on the packages after they have been placed and pressed thereon by means of the plunger of the label holder. The feed plunger 22 has extended forwardly therefrom a rod 98, which is horizontally and longitudinally supported on the lower surface of the bed plate by means of bearings 94E through suitable openings, in which said rod is adapted to slide. Surrounding the rods 98 is a coiled spring 95, which rests at one of its ends against one of the bearings 94 and at its other end against a pin or projection 96 carried by said rod, and said spring is employed for the purpose of retracting the feed plunger 22 after it has been advanced through the instrumentality of the cam 26 on the guiding shaft 27, the

roller 25, the bell crank lever which carries -of the packages to be forced through the recess S3 of the hopper by means of said plate. As the depth or vertical thicknesses of the packages to be labeled vary, it becomes necessary to provide means for use in connection with packages of less depth than the size of the standard packages, and for this purpose a detachable plate 100 (see Figs. 5 and 9), may be placed on the bed plate 20 between the guide bars Si and 85, and secured to said bed plate by means of screws inserted through openings 101 in the plate 100, and openings 102 in the bed plate. l/Vhen this supplemental plate is employed the front or pushing end 103 of the feed plate 97 would strike the plate 100, and for this reason the opposite end of the plate 97 is provided with a narrower flange or pushing end 104, which can be placed in position to operate above the plate 100, by turning the plate 97 end for end and securing it to the feed plunger.

Adjustably secured by means of a screw 105 extended through a slot 106 in its upper portion to thelower front portion of the hopper 51 is a spring presser-foot 107 which extends downwardly and forwardly so as to rest on the packages adjacent to the hopper as they are fed forwardly therefrom beneath the paste or glue pot.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings, it will be readily understood and clearly seen, that when it is desired to operate the machine by means of a motor or by means of hand power, the arm 4% of the clutch controlling bell crank can be connected by means of a rod 15 to the pedal -1-7, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, when it is evident that if the machine is to be driven by motive power said power may be applied to the fly wheel 29 by means of a belt 108, leading from the motor or driven shaft to said wheel. If it is desired to operate the machine by hand power, a handle 109 may be secured to the wheel 29 and the belt 10S removed. In either instance the wheel 29 may be thrown out of engagement with the clutch 31 by forcing downwardly on the pedal 47, which will cause the shaft 27 to be slid laterally in the direction of the balance wheel. W hen it is desiredf to operate the machine by foot power,` a connecting rod 45a may be pivotally secured at its upper end to the wheel 29, and at its lower'end to the pedal 47, at a suitable point, andthe connecting rod 45 for the clutch releasing mechanism dispensed with, as it is apparent that the operation of the machine may be stopped at will by stopping the movement of the pedal.

In using the machine the parts will nor- Y mally occupy the positions shown in Figs.

1, 2 and l of the drawings, when it is manifest that the packages may be placed in the v hopper 51, one upon another, so that the bottom one will rest on the bed plate 20, when by applying power to the driving shaft 27, by any desired means, and causing Y said shaft to turn in the vproper direction the feed plate 97will be caused to advance, thus forcing the'lower. package forwardly through the opening S3 in the lower rear.V

portion of the hopper and under the spring presser foot 107, in which operation the cam 33 will cause the block 30 to be raised, thereby raising the paste pot 7 G,`label holder l65 (which it will be understood hasbeen supplied with labels of the desired kind), and the brush holder 90. As soon as one ofthe packages has been ejected from the lower portion of the hopper l, the feed plunger' u and feed plate 97 will be retractedby the action of the spring on the rod 93, thus allowing the packages to descend in the hopper and at the .same time permitting the paste pot, label plunger and brush to descend. 1n further operation of the machine, the foregoing named steps will be repeated, and it is apparent that each package as it passes under the paste pot will have distributedi over its upper portion paste or glue, and as it passes under the label holder a label will be affixed thereto through the instrumentality of the plunger 62, and as said packages pass under the brush 92 the' labels thereon will be tamped or gently tapped so as to remove wrinkles from the labels and cause them to be smoothly and securely amxed to the packages.

Having thus full)7 described myv invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isj 1. In a label aiiixing machine, the combination with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same, i a vertically reciprocal paste pot, a vertically reciprocal label holder, a label striking plunger carried by said holder, means to simul-Y taneously reciprocate the paste pot, and label holder, and means to raise said plimger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger.

2. In a label aflixing machine, the combination with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same, l

Vincense' a vertically reciprocal paste pot, a vertically reciprocal label holder, a label striking plunger carried by said holder, a vertically movable tamping-brush, means to simultaneously reciprocate the paste pot, the tampingbrush, and label holder, and means to raise said plunger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger.

3. In a label aflixing machine, the combi nation with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same, a vertically reciprocal paste pot, a vertically reciprocal label holder, a vertically movable and gravity actuated label striking plunger carried by said holder, means to simultaneously reciprocate the paste pot, and label holde as well, and means to raise said plunger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger.

4e. In a label aifiXing machine, the combination with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same and having an opening in its lower portion, av horizontally reciprocal feeding device longitudinally mounted on the frame and extended above said plate and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper, a vertically movable paste pot having means in its lower end to discharge an adhesive, a vertically movable label holder, a label striking plunger having independent vertical movement from and carried by said holder, means to reciprocate the feeding device, means to raise and lower the paste pot and label holder as well as the plunger carried by the latter.

In a label aflixing machine, the combination with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same and having an opening in its lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device longitudinally mounted on the frame and eX- tended above said plate and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper, a vertically movable paste pot having means in its lower end to discharge an adhesive, a vertically movable label holder', a label striking plunger having independent vertical movement from and carried by said holder, means to reciprocate the feeding device, means to raise and lower the paste pot and label holder as well as the plunger carried by the latter, and means to raise said plun ger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger.

6. In a label aHiXing machine, the combination with the main frame having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same and having in its lower portion an opening for the passage of packages, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device longitudinally mounted on the frame and extended above said plate and adapted to be projected into said opening of the hopper, a vertically 4movable paste pot having means in its lower portion for the discharge of an adhesive, a label striking plunger having independent verti cal movement from and carried by said holder, a vertically movable tamping-brush, means to reciprocate the feeding device, means to raise and lower the paste pot, the tamping-brush and label holder as well as the plunger carried thereby, and means to raise said plunger independently of sald holder and to automatically release the plunger.

7. In a label alfixing machine, the combination with a main frame having a bed plate, of a driving shaft journaled on said frame, means to drive said shaft, a hopper mounted on the plate and having an opening in its rear lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device` mounted near said hopper, a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the frame, a roller on one of the .arms thereof, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, a connection uniting the other arm of said lever to the feeding device, a spring pressed rod slidably mounted on the frame and connected to said feeding device, a block mounted on the frame for vertical movement and having a rearwardly and downwardly extended arm, a roller on the free end of said arm, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, a pair of rods vertically supported on said block and extended through openings in the bed plate at the rear of the hopper, and a paste pot having means in its lower portion for the discharge of an adhesive and mounted on the upper portion of said rods for vertical movement.

8. In a label aftlXing machine, the combination with a main frame having a bed plate, of a driving shaft journaled on said frame, means to drive said shaft, a hopper mounted on the plate and having an opening in its rear lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device mounted near said hopper, a bell crank lever fulcrumed on the frame, a roller on one of the arms thereof, a cam on the driving shaft in .contact with said roller, a connection uniting the other arm of said lever to the feeding device, a spring pressed rod slidably mounted on the frame and connected to said feeding device, a block mounted on the frame for vertical movement and having a rearwardly and downwardly extended arm, a roller on the free end of said arm, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, a pair of rods vertically supported on said block and extended through openings in the bed plate at the rear of the hopper, a. paste pot having means in its lower portion for the discharge of an adhesive and mounted on the upper portion of said rods for vertical movement, a pair of spring pressed rods vertically supported by said block and extended through suitable openings in the bed plate at the rear of the paste pot, a label carrier mounted on the upper portion of the last named rods, a label striking plunger located for vertical movement within the label holder, and means to raise said plunger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger.

9. In a label aflixing machine, the combination with a main frame having a bed plate, of a driving shaft journaled on said frame, means to drive said shaft, a hopper mounted on the plate and having an opening in its rear lower portion, a horizontally reciprocal feeding device mounted near said hopper, a bell crank lever fulcruined on the frame, a roller on one of the arms thereof, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, a connection uniting the other arm of said vlever to the feeding device, a spring pressed rod slidably mounted on the frame and connected to said feeding device, a block mounted on the frame for vertical movement and having a rearwardly and downwardly extended arm, a roller on the free end of said arm, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with said roller, a pair of rods vertically supported on said block and extended through openings in the bed plate at the rear of the hopper, a paste pot having means in its lower portion for the discharge of an adhesive and mounted on the upper portion of said rods for vertical movement, a pair of spring pressed rods vertically supported by said bloc and extended through suitable openings in the bed plate at the rear of the paste pot, a label carrier mounted on the upper portion of the last named rods, a label striking plunger located for vertical movement within the label holder, means to raise said plunger independently of said holder and to automatically release the plunger, a third pair of rods vertically supported by said block and extended through suitable openings in the bed plate, and a. brush holder mounted on the upper ends of the last named rod.

10. The combination with a main frame having a horizontally disposed bed plate, of a driving shaft j ournaled on the said frame, a pair of vertically reciprocal rods mounted on the main frame and extended through the bed plate, a block uniting said rods transversely and fixed thereto, an arm downwardly extended from said block, a roller on the free portion of said arm, a cam on the driving shaft in contact with Said roller, a

label holder having at each of its sides a socket to receive the upper portions of said rods, a label striking plunger located within said holder and having a vertical rod, a cross bar located above the holder and having an opening for the passage of the rod of the plunger, an opening for the upper ends of said vertically disposed rods, a dog pivotally secured in each of the last named openings, a gripping arm pivotally secured at one of its ends to each of said dogs and having its other end supported on the cross bar adjacent to the rod of the said plunger.

11. The combination with a horizontally supported bed plate, of a pair of spring pressed rods vertically supported thereon and extended above said plate, each of said rods having on its portion above the plate a projection, a spring actuated and downwardly pressed rod located near each of the first named rods, a label holder having at each of its sides a socket to receive the first named rods, a label striking plunger located in said holder for vertical movement and having a rod extended upwardly from said holder, a looped link pivotally secured at its lower end to each of the downwardly spring pressed rods, a cross bar 'located above the label holder and having an opening for the passage of the plunger rod, and provided with slots near its ends, a dog pivotally secured in each of said slots and adapted to rest on the upper ends of the first named rods, a gripping rod pivotally secured at its outer end to each of said dogs and movably supported on the said bar at its other end near the rod of the plunger.

12. In a label aiixing machine, the coinbination with a main framev having a bed plate, of a hopper mounted above the same, a vertically movable label holder, a label striking plunger carried by said holder and located within vthe same and having a stem extended upwardly therefrom, means to raise the holder, a gripping device for said stem consisting of a pair of independently movable members located on opposite sides of the stein, means operably connected with said members for causing them to grip the Y stem and move it and the plunger away from the labels and to automatically release them to permit movement of the plunger in the opposite direction.

JOHN RIIKONEY` Vitnesses:

CHAs. C. TILLMAN, A. S. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

